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The Ancient Paths of Northumbria in northeastern England have been trod by generations of men and women who loved God and followed Jesus, bringing faith, hope, and love to vast numbers of people. Today, the Northumbria Community remains a living expression of this monastic, contemplative stream of the faith, and the perennial need to make that faith relevant to the world. Celtic Daily Prayer is the fruit of the spiritual life of a remarkable community. Its liturgies, prayers, and meditations are drawn from a deep well of spiritual experience that transcends fashion, culture, and denomination. Blending prayer and praise and building upon the ancient wisdom of traditional Celtic Christianity, this prayer book is extraordinarily fresh. At the heart of the life of the Northumbria Community, as well as this book, lies the Daily Office -- morning, noon, and evening prayers and a monthly cycle of meditations for individual or communal use each day. With words drawn from sources such as St. Patrick's Breastplate, Teresa's Bookmark, Columba's Blessing, and the Psalms, this cycle of daily prayers reflects the essential rhythms of life. With liturgies for communion and other special occasions as well as daffy readings, this prayer book contains two complete years of scripture readings and a calendar of saints' days and festivals. The Jewish tradition of family Shabbat, adapted with prayers from the Celtic tradition, also finds its place in this book. A section on rites of passage suggests prayers and rituals for the pivotal times of life: birth, rebirth, marriage, midlife, and bereavement, as well as blessings and graces for all occasions. This traditionally grounded yet surprisingly modem prayer book will enrich the spiritual life of readers for years to come.

Invocation of the Holy Spirit

ix

Introduction

xi

About This Book

1

(1)

The Upper and Nether Springs

2

(2)

The liturgies

4

(2)

Why Celtic?

6

(2)

The Northumbria Community

8

(2)

The Community Rule of Availability and Vulnerability

10

(1)

How to use this book

11

(2)

Daily Office

13

(13)

How to use Daily Office

13

(4)

Morning Prayer

17

(3)

Midday Prayer

20

(2)

Evening Prayer

22

(4)

Complines

26

(20)

How to use Complines

26

(1)

Sunday - the Ita Compline

27

(3)

Monday - the Aidan Compline

30

(4)

Tuesday - the Cuthbert Compline

34

(4)

Wednesday - the Felgild Compline

38

(2)

Thursday - the Ebba Compline

40

(2)

Friday - the Boisil Compline

42

(2)

Saturday - the Patrick Compline

44

(2)

Meditations for Each Day of the Month

46

(28)

Holy Communion

74

(13)

Family Shabbat

87

(5)

Follow the Example

92

(112)

Calendar and resources for saints' days and festivals

92

(52)

Brigid - in welcoming

144

(9)

A house-blessing

145

(5)

Prayers for a workplace

150

(3)

Oswald - in practical ways

153

(5)

Prayers for committing our work to God

153

(5)

Aidan - in the power of the Spirit

158

(4)

Prayers for being sent out with God's blessing

158

(4)

Chad - in willing service

162

(5)

Prayers for a journey or at a time of change

162

(5)

Hild - in the right place

167

(4)

Wrestling with the call of God

167

(4)

Cuthbert - into a desert place

171

(7)

For a solitary retreat

172

(6)

Brendan - in exploration of a vision

178

(16)

Prayers for a spiritual journey

178

(16)

Ninian - in relating to the whole of life

194

(3)

Prayers for the blessing of land and of life

195

(2)

Caedmon - in declaration of a dream

197

(5)

Prayers about becoming a voice for those who have no voice

198

(4)

A litany of saints - the house that John built

202

(2)

Rites of Passage

204

(24)

Coming into the light - birth

204

(6)

Prayers for the christening or dedication of a child

204

(6)

Coming into the light - rebirth

210

(2)

Marriage - light and shadow

212

(4)

In difficult times

216

(3)

A general intercession for those in trouble

218

(1)

Mid-life

219

(3)

The shadow of death

222

(3)

Death and dying

222

(3)

The darkness of bereavement

225

(3)

Times and Seasons

228

(62)

Advent

228

(7)

Christmas

235

(3)

New Year

238

(8)

A covenant service

239

(5)

Light a candle in the darkness

244

(2)

Lent

246

(2)

Approaching Easter

248

(20)

Foot washing

248

(3)

The way of the cross

251

(13)

Easter Eve

264

(4)

Easter

268

(10)

An Easter Vigil

268

(10)

The Sunday after Easter

278

(3)

Ascension

281

(3)

Pentecost

284

(1)

Harvest

285

(5)

Blessings, Prayers and Graces

290

(12)

Prayers of blessing

290

(4)

Prayers

294

(3)

Caim prayer (when I do not know what to pray)

297

(2)

Graces

299

(3)

The Aidan Series of Daily Readings

302

(287)

About the daily readings

302

(1)

January: Consider my meditation

303

(20)

February: Devoted to Him

323

(20)

March: Ask for the old paths

343

(25)

April: The inward journey

368

(18)

May: Crossroads

386

(30)

All Your creatures

401

(6)

Gift from the sea

407

(9)

June: Desert Fathers

416

(16)

July: Pilgrimage

432

(32)

August: Iona

464

(30)

September: In the shadow of Aidan

494

(19)

October: With understanding

513

(26)

November: Chosen people

539

(29)

December: Deeper life

568

(21)

The Finan Series of Daily Readings

589

(228)

January: Be Thou my vision

589

(19)

February: Doorkeepers

608

(20)

March: Small beginnings

628

(18)

April: Abandonment

646

(15)

May: To a young disciple

661

(23)

June: Jesus of the scars

684

(19)

July: The city without a church

703

(14)

August: What gives you the right?

717

(20)

Without walls

725

(12)

September: Standing in the secret

737

(23)

Broken gold

747

(4)

Celtic insight

751

(9)

October: Parting and planting

760

(17)

November: The house that John built

777

(18)

December: Enter in

795

(22)

FURTHER INFORMATION

817

(1)

Sources and acknowledgements

817

(8)

Bibliography

825

(2)

Contact details for the Northumbria Community

827

(1)

Cross-references to Celtic Daily Readings

828

Celtic Daily PrayerPrayers and Readings From the Northumbria Community

Morning Prayer

Said or sung all together except for the sentences marked 'Call', which are for the Leader only. + indicates that you may make the sign of the cross.

+ In the name of the Father,and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord,this is what I seek:that I may dwell in the house of the Lordall the days of my life;to behold the beauty of the Lordand to seek Him in His temple.

Call: Who is it that you seek?Response: We seek the Lord our God.Call: Do you seek Him with all your heart?Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.Call: Do you seek Him with all your soul?Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.Call: Do you seek Him with all your mind?Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.Call: Do you seek Him with all your strength?Response: Amen. Christ, have mercy.

Excerpted from Celtic Daily Prayer: From the Northumbria Community by The Northumbria Community All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.